Small forward Dez Wells, expected to blossom into a star in his second season with the Xavier Musketeers, was expelled from the university on Tuesday for what was termed “a serious violation of Xavier’s code of student conduct.”

Wells is a 6-5, 215-pound product of Raleigh, N.C., who averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in his only season at Xavier. He shot 50.4 percent from the floor and 37.7 percent from 3-point range and was the team’s leading returning scorer. He started 32 of Xavier’s 36 games, missing four when he was among those suspended for his role in the fight between the Musketeers and the crosstown rival Cincinnati Bearcats last December.

Xavier’s conduct board comprises faculty, students and administrators and was responsible for the finding that Wells had violated the university’s code of conduct.

“While we understand there is heightened interest in this situation because it involves a student-athlete, we must reiterate that first and foremost Xavier’s interest and responsibility to all of our students is to provide a quality education in a safe and nurturing environment,” the university said in its release. “A serious violation of Xavier’s code of student conduct will not be tolerated. All Xavier students are subject to the same protections and consequences.”

Xavier cited federal privacy laws in explaining why it could not comment further or provide more information about the nature of the offense.